Wa Dining Okan Review (Convoy): One of SD's Best Restaurants

Love me some Wa Dining Okan.  It is NOT a hole in the wall, even though it might appear to be on first glance, as it's tiny and in a Convoy strip mall. It is a tiny, perfect, classy establishment.

Music: French cabaret

Food: Best miso soup I've had in San Diego. Wonderful broth. Delicious vegetables.

Got the salted grilled salmon again (enjoyed it so much last time). Delectable brown rice with some seaweed (I forget the name).  The two veggie tapas of the day that came with it were a delectable broccoli with sesame seeds, and a "tofu lees" (I had to ask twice what that meant). It turns out it is the soy pulp left over after you take soy milk out of a soybean. YUM.  There were also some perfect little pickles: 2 baby cuke slices, 2 tiny carrot slices, and then some beet-red (tomato?) pickles. Perfectly briny, clean, refreshing, crisp.

The atmosphere is also very quiet, as if the people crowded in realize that this is a temple of food and one should speak in hushed tones while enjoying it.

Many customers were Japanese.

This is such a perfect little restaurant. San Diego is so enriched by having places of this caliber. I can't say I've had a more delicious piece of fish (even though it was simple) or more intriguing veggies in quite a while.

My 3rd visit should come sooner than my 2nd visit took!!

Happy feet! (Happy Buddha Foot Reflexology, Convoy)

I had no time for a foodie adventure today, but I did have very sore feet and a sore body all around. I decided to sneak over for an hour to Happy Buddha Foot Reflexology - aka the place right next to Dumpling Inn (Convoy). (Mmmmm.....Dumpling Inn). It was ABSOLUTE BLISS and at a ridiculously low price, $30 for one hour of foot reflexology plus neck, scalp, arms and legs (they probably save on overhead because everyone is worked on in one quiet room, nail salon style). SO RELAXING. I had forgotten how good this place was (I think we went once together pre-parenthood, and CH goes occasionally). The work on my feet did not really hurt at all, and the rest was super relaxing. It's an absolute must-try!

And if you have more time than I did, you can stop next door afterwards at Dumpling Inn for some of my faves:
--spinach egg flower soup OR veg hot and sour soup
--kung pao sea bass or black bean sea bass
--Chinese tender greens
--CH likes the dumpling soup and pretty much all their chicken or beef dishes
--homemade noodles
--veggie dumplings

I'm forgetting lots of dishes.....

Dumpling Inn (Convoy area)

Oh Dumpling, Dumpling....It's true that for the local Chinese community, you are known as Fat Joe's House of Dumpling or something. But since I'm a native English speaker (and therefore too politically correct, as my Chinese colleague says, to call someone fat), to me it's just the deliriously yummy Dumpling Inn. Much too crowded to eat at with a toddler - in fact, I haven't eaten there in person since he was born! But amen for takeout. Tonight we're getting some of our faves: spinach-tofu-egg flower soup, black bean sea bass, beef with scallions, chinese greens and cucumber salad. The dumplings are yummy too; any of their fresh noodles; the kung pao etc etc. Some yelpers say the waitresses are not friendly but they must not be regulars. To eat the best Chinese food in San Diego (there, I said it - I may not be Chinese, but I prefer it to Jasmine, Emerald, and even Ba Ren and Dede's), I'd put up with a lot worse - but the ladies who work there just happen to be very efficient and professional beneath their harried exteriors. In fact they give great service (at least to us). Long live takeout at Dumpling Inn - a Sunday night favorite. Not only is the food extremely delicious, but the drive there and back gives us 20 min. not to have to chase the toddler! :) (really the food is the important part, though!)